The Portugues Asia, or, The history of the discovery and conquest of India by the Portugues containing all their discoveries from the coast of Africk, to the farthest parts of China and Japan, all their battels by sea and land, sieges and other memorable actions, a description of those countries, and many particulars of the religion, government and customs of the natives, &c. : in three tomes / written in Spanish by Manuel de Faria y Sousa ... ; translated into English by Cap. John Stevens.

CHAP. XI.

Continues the Subject of the Propagation of the Gospel.

1. ABout the middle of the Year 1595, F. Matthew Rivius set out for the City Nanking in Company of a Great Man. The Way was up great Rivers, in one of which the Vessels were sunk, and F. Rivius forced to swim for his Life, having lost his Companion Iohn Barradas. His Design was to settle a Residence in that Court, where he found many Opposers, and among them a powerful Man who had pretended much Friendship.

2. He went to Nancham, the Metropolis of the Province Kiangsi, between Nanking and Quantung. Being there in despair of any Success, he obtained a Lodging, where

he said Mass on the Day of St. Peter and Paul, and afterwards leave to fix a Residence, whither resorted F. Iohn Soeyro from Macao, and the Brothers Francis Martinez and Se∣bastian Rodriguez from Hancheu; with much trouble they founded a Church.

3. The Visitor Valiniano seeing how in∣convenient it was the Affairs of China should have any dependance abroad, granted F. Mat∣thew Rivius the full superintendence of them. He resolved again to attempt settling a Re∣sidence at Nanking. From hence he pro∣posed to send advice of his coming to that King, with a Present of Things very com∣mon in Europe, though there much esteemed for their Rarity. These were Clocks much admired of the Chineses, for that they move of themselves. Triangular Glasses, that re∣present variety of Colours. A Harpsical. But what was more surprizing than all the rest, was the Learning of F. Rivius, his Art of Memory, his Maps of the World, his Un∣derstanding, Wit and Judgment.

4. There being no way to send the Pre∣sent, it was agreed the Fathers should carry it themselves, going in Company of a Noble∣man that Travelled thither. In the way to Peking they saw many Cities and innume∣table Villages along the Banks of the Rivers up which they went. Being come to Peking, they spent a Month soliciting an Audience of the King, but without success.

5. Rivius with great trouble returned to Sucheu, being sent for by his Disciple Cui∣tayso. This is doubtless the most glorious

City in those Parts. It is built in a River, as Venice in the Sea, and is of great strength to prevent all Accidents. The occasion of sending for F. Rivius, was to fix a Residence there. The Viceroy of Nanking's leave was requisite for this undertaking: Both Master and Disciple take a Journey thither, and and the Viceroy grants leave to settle in both Places. Here F. Rivius disputed with a fa∣mous Bonzo, and overcame him even in the Judgment of his Adversaries.

6. The Court of Publick Works propo∣sed to the Fathers to buy a House that had long stood empty because haunted by Devils, they did, and all the People was astonished to see that after their entrance the Fiends had forsaken it. They could not undertake any thing than at Sucheu for want of more Fathers.

7. Still F. Rivius his Thoughts were bent upon Peking, to obtain the King's consent to proceed. Whilst he prepared for this Jour∣ney, the Faith considerably spread at Nan∣king. The first Baptized was a discreet old Man 70 Years of Age, of a Noble Family, who had an hereditary Military Command, his Sirname was Chin, and he was Christen∣ed by the Name of Paul. His Son, a Learn∣ed Man, followed the good Example, and was named Iohn, then all their Family, and some Kindred.

8. On the 16th of May 1600, F. Rivius Embarqued the second time upon the River for Peking, with him went F. Iames Pantoja a Spaniard, called by a learned Man Golden

Hands, for the delicate Works he wrought, and the two Brothers Sebastian and Emanuel. At Nanking remained F. Lazarus de Catania and B. Iohn.

9. Whilst they went up the River, the Viceroy of the Province of Xangsi's Wife dream'd she saw a Sovereign Deity with two Children. She concluded her Dream was expounded, when her Husband relating the Things contained in the Present, for the King mentioned a Picture of our Blessed Lady, with our Saviour and St. Iohn Baptist. The Lady desiring such a Picture, and there being no Painter to Copy it, F. Rivius gave her a Copy he had. The Viceroy receiving it with respect, assured him he and his Fa∣mily would always Reverence the Mother and Son.

10. At the City Linchin a covetous Eu∣nuch, who was Receiver-General of the Revenue, called Mathan, imprisoned them in the Fort of Tiensim, seizing upon the Present they carried for the King, and all they had. After six Months confinement, an Order came from the King (without know∣ing who had procured it) that the Fathers should be sent to him. All things were re∣stored them, and they arrived at Peking a∣bout the end of the Year 1601. The Pre∣sent was publickly carried to Court, and the King as soon as he saw the Picture of Christ admiring it, said; This is the living God. Yet afterwards caused it to be removed out of his sight. The same happened with his Mother; nevertheless it was set in a decent

place, and honoured with Perfumes, and is said to be preserved in that Palace to this Day. A striking Clock was much admired; so several other things.

11. Afterwards they were sent for; a fa∣vourite Eunuch spoke to them in the King's Name; they gave him an account who they were, whence they came, and what they desired. He acquainted the King with it, and they were lodged in the Palace, in the Apartment of the Mathematicians, and nobly entertained. There they instructed some Men appointed by the King in the Motion of the Clocks, and how to keep them, and then removed to a hired House. The King saw them not, because he scarce used to see his own People, but to have some sort of sight of them, sent Painters to draw their Pictures. Having seen the Pictures he took them for Moors. Pantoja was again introduced into the Palace, to teach some Musicians to play upon the Harpsical.

12. Thus far were our hopes advanced, when the Fathers were imprisoned by the Court of Ceremonies, for presuming to re∣side there, without presenting themselves before their Tribunal. This confinement lasted but three days, because the King sent for them. Though he sent for them they saw him not, yet performed all the usual im∣pertinent Ceremonies to his Throne as if he had been there. The Supream President of that Court more particularly examined F. Rivius who he was, whence he came, and what he and his Companions pretended at

Court; and he being the most expert in the Chinese Language, in most lofty terms answer'd to all those Particulars, to the great admiration of the President and all the Au∣ditory.

13. The King being informed hereof, granted the Fathers leave to live at that Court, and all the Courtiers favoured them, especially the Ministers of State and Manda∣rins. F. Rivius so far gained the favour of a Calao, the Supream Dignity in that Empire, that he treated him as his equal (a thing never used in that great Place) seated him at his Table, and gave singular attention to all he said, particularly in Matters relating to Religion. One of the things that most pleased him was, that Christianity allowed not of more Wives than one. Thus Rivius contracted Friendship with the President of the Supream Council, and soon after most of the Principal Men.

14. Thus with Divine and Royal Assi∣stance the Faith was propagated at Peking, Hancheu, Nanking and Nancham. There were converted Mandarins, Lawyers and o∣ther Persons of Note; some with their whole Families; and the Society of Jesus, after 20 Years labour, in the Year 1601 was posses∣sed of four Residences in China, one where∣of at Court, which was to support all the rest.

15. F. Nicholas Longobardo, a Sicilian, who was Rector at Hancheu, suffered very much, but some Men of Note, especially one Tauli, pleading for the Fathers, the Storm was

somewhat appeased. But it broke out more furious at the Instigation of a Witch, who, there being a great Dearth, said, the God∣dess Quonhin would not give Rain whilst the Fathers were there, and F. Nicholas was threatned with Death, who desirous to suffer Martyrdom, ran to the Place where they were threatning him. He finding those Peo∣ple disputing about the Rain, told them how vain it was to expect it from any but the God he preached; and immediately there fell such abundance as refreshed the Fields, and quenched their Thirst after his Blood; so that House for that time was re∣stored to its former quiet. Let this for the present suffice touching the Conversion of China, till we have occasion to speak of it again.